K U Rao, CEO of Diligent Media Group's daily newspaper DNA, has been assigned a role in the senior corporate management of the group. Though his exact role isn't clear yet, the news was confirmed to afaqs! by Rao.
It may be noted that Diligent Media Group was launched as a 50:50 joint venture between Essel Group and D B Corp in 2005. Earlier this year, Essel announced its offer to buy out Dainik Bhaskar's stake in the company, thereby establishing complete ownership of the Mumbai-based daily newspaper. However, since 2009, Essel Group has handled the complete management of the publication.
After completing MBA in marketing from the Andhra University in 1982, Rao started his career with Philips India as area manager, sales, consumer electronics division in 1983. In 1989, six years after joining Philips, he shifted to join Onida as head of sales.
In 1994, he moved to Shell International Petroleum as international sales head, car care products. He stayed with the company for about 12 years and this was his last stint in the sales industry. Over the 12 years, Rao worked for Shell in several countries including India, South Africa, Singapore and the UK. He was also the vice-president, commercial, Bharat Shell, a company in which Shell has 51 per cent majority shareholding, for some time.
He joined DNA in October, 2006 as chief executive officer.
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